Fire-alarm box.



PATENTED MAR. 27

s. J. HEINRICH. FIRE ALARM BOX.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 26. 1904.

a SHEETS-SHEET 1 n uw a PATENTED MAR. 27, 1906.

S. J. HEINRICH.

FIRE ALARM BOX.

APPLIQATION FILED APR. 26. 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

[Makin- No. 816,465. PATENTED MAR. 27, 1906. S. J. HEINRICH.

FIRE ALARM BOX.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 20, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SH-EET 3.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN J. HEINRICH, IOF BELLEVUE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN ELECTRIC ALARM COMPANY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYL- VANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

FIRE-ALARM BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 27, 1906.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, STEPHEN J. HEINRIoH,

a subject of. the Emperor of AustriaHungary, residing at Bellevue, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Fire-Alarm Boxes, of which t e following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has relation to fire-alarm boxes, and has for its object the provision of novel means for successively breaking the circuit of a fire-alarm system at regular intervals after the boxes have been pulled, so as to indicate to the o erator at the central station the number of the particular box from which the alarm has been sent.

A further object of my invention is to provide means in a fire-alarm box for reventing simultaneous operation of a pluraiity of firealarm boxes arranged on the same circuit.

In a system fitted with fire-alarm boxes constructed according to my improvement each box when pulled to send in an alarm so effects the electric circuit that during the time this box is in operation no other box on the same circuit can be thrown into operation, and my improvement therefore constitutes a non-interferin fire-alarm box, it be ing understood that afi the boxes in a system employing my improvements are of the same construction, so that each box will control the circuit and prevent any of the other boxes therein from being sounded while it is in operation.

My invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described'and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a alarm box constructed according to myimprovement, the outer door thereof being open. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a receptacle w ch is arranged in the box shown in Fig. 1 and which contains the operating mechanism of my improved box. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the receptacle shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view of a part of the operating mechanism on the line a: a: of Fig. 3 looking toward the back of the receptacle. Fig. 5 is a similar view on the same line looking to ward the front of the receptacle. Fig. 6 is a firewill gradually I detail perspective view of a part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5. Figs. 7 and 8 are diagrammatical views showing the electric circuits of my improved box. Fig. 9 is a rear view of the inner door of the box shown in Fig.1. 'Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view of the door shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a plan view, and Fig. 12 a transverse sectional view, of the main the operating mechanism shown in Figs. 2 to 5.

The outer casing of the box (designated 1) is of the usual configuration and is provided with a hin ed outer door 2, carrying the usual glassaced compartment 3 for the reception of a key which opens the lock 4 of the door. The door 2 carries an inwardly-projecting pin 5, which when the door is closed contacts with a movable pin 6, that passes through the inner door 7 and, as will be herethrows the electrical appurtenances of the box into or out of circuit with the main line accordingly as the door 2 is opened or closed.

The inner door 7 is formed with a curved slot 8, through which projects a hook 10, carried by an arm 9, by means of which the mechamsm within the box is operated when an alarm is to be sounded. The arm 9 is pivoted at 1 1 on the inside of the door 7, and a spring 12 is secured to the arm 9 and to a pin 13 on the door, the said spring serving to restore the arm 9 to its normal position after the box has been pulled. A dog 14'is pivoted on the arm 9 and pressed by a spring 15, the said dog engaging the curved winding-arm 16 of the operatim mechanism. The winding-arm 16 be observed that the arm arm 16 are pivoted at substantially opposite points and that the dog I l-is located intermediate of these two pivotal points, so that as the arm9 is pulled downwardly the dog move toward the end of the winding-arm and will eventually slip off of the same, thus releasing the winding-arm at the termination of the downward movement of the arm 9 and preventing the Winding-arm from'being held in its depressed position. The winding-arm 16 is carried on the end of a shaft 17, which, together with the other movna ed in the front plate l8 and the rear plate inafter described, operates a switch which.

in parts of the winding mechanism, is jour-.

gear-wheel and locking-cam of 9 is shown 1n dotted lines in Fig. 9, and it will 9 and the windingof the wheel where the pins engage with the tooth 54, and the formation of these pins im- 19 of the supporting-frame of the operating a 31, the movement of which is governed by a cam-disk 36 the armature will be elevated second rockin arm 45, which is cut away on one of the pins 55 with the tooth 54, the conare,

mechanism. Upon the shaft 17 and between the plates 18 and 19 is mounted the windingsegment 20, that meshes with a pinion 21, carried by a shaft 22, to which shaft is secured one end of a volute spring 23, the other end thereof be n. attached to a pin 24 on the plate 19. Tie winding-segment 20 is formed with a hooked arm 25, the end of which when the winding-segment is at rest en ages with a post 26, extending between the plates 18 and 19. A ear-wheel 27 is loosely mounted on the shaft 22, and the said gear wheel com.- municates motion through a. pinion 28, a gearwheel 29, and a pinion 30 to an escape-wheel pawl 32, mounted on a shaft 33, which. carries an arm that is providedwith adjustable Weights 35, by means of which the rate of movement of the pawl can be regulated. A cam-disk 36 is fast on the shaft 22 and revolved thereby, and said cam-disk is formed with a ratchet-tooth37, which when'the shaft 22 is turned by pulling the winding-arm 16 engages a pin 38 on a dog 39, that is loosely mounted and has a limited m ovement'on a shaft 40 and is drawn downwardly by aspiral spring 41. The shaft 40 has fixed upon it a rocking lever 42, which carries the armature 43 ofan electromagnet 44', and said lever 42 has a shoulder 42, that is engaged by a similar shoulder 39 on dog 89, so that when the dog is forced downwardly by the turning of and caused to contact with the cores of electromagnet 44. The shaft 40 also carries a one side, as in cated at 46, leaving a tooth 47 with a beveled end, this rocking armbeing shown in the detail perspective view, Fig. 6. An insulating-plate 48 is mounted on the plate 18, and upon'said'insulating-plate are mounted two pivoted contact-arms 49 '50, these contact-arms being provided with platinum contactpoints 51 and being drawn to ward one another by spiral springs 52 53. The contact-M11150 has a tooth 54 on its outer side, whichis successively engaged by the pins 55 on the face of an insulated signal-wheel 56,'thatis carried on a shaft 57, said shaft also carryin the pinion 28 and the gear-wheel 29. Each of the pins 55 is semicircular in form, the flat side of the pin being uppermost on that side parts a comparatively slow movement in one direction to the arm 50, while allowing the same to return to its normal position rapidly. When the arm is moved by the contact of tact-point of this arm slides along the contactpoint'of the contact-arm 49, and this sliding movement keepsthe contact-points clean and avoids the accumulation of dust or theforl TILE/610D of oxide thereon, The movement leased from engagement. with one ofthe pinsand the-arms 49 50 have been returned to their normal position in contact with the ins 57 58 the contact-points on the arms wi l be separated.

The winding-segment 25 carries a lug 25, which when the box is at rest lies in the cutaway portion 46 of the rocking arm 45 back armature 43 the lu 25 is out of the path of the-tooth 47, and't e windin -segrnent may be turned by pulling the hoo 10.

The mechanism above described is contained within a circular. casing 59, that is fastened in the rece tacle that contains all of the signaling meclianism, said receptacle being designated 60, and the casing, if desired, being provided .with a glass front to protect the operating mechanism from dust. In the lower left-hand corner of the receptacle 60 is arranged the switching mechanism, the said mechanism. comprising four contact-points, lettered, respectively, 61, 62, 63, and 64, these contact-points being mounted on an insulated base 65. A sWinging'contact-arm 66 is also mounted on the base 65, and said arm carries two contact-plates, lettered, respectively, 67 and 68 and the swinging arm is drawn outwardly by a spiral spring 71 and is connected to the pin 6, which projects through the inner door 7 of the box and is engaged by the pin 5 on the outer door when the said outer door is closed. The plates 67 68 are of such width that each of them will 'contactlate 68 being then in enga ement only wit the contact-point 64, and w en the outer door 2 of'the box is opened the switch lever 66 swings outwardly, and the plate 67 bridges the contacts 61 62, while the plate 68 bridges the contacts 63 64. A lightning-arrester 72 and an electric call-bell 7 3 are ar- 'ranged in the receptacle 60; but as these parts are of the usual and well-known construction they need not be specifically described. Binding-posts 74 75 76 77 are arranged on the casing 59,, and these binding-posts serve for the attachment of the wires Within the box, while binding-posts 78 79 on the callbell and binding-posts 80 81 82 on the lightnin -arrester 72 serve a like purpose.

A spring-tongue 83 is mounted on an insulated post 84 on the plate 18, and said to e is caused wnen the box has been pulle to contact witnz'a similar tongue 85, which is mounted on an insulated post 86 the movement of the tongue 83 being effected by an arm 87, carried on the 'shaft22, this arm being so located that itwill operate upon springtongue 83 and force it into contact with the spring-tongue 85 when the box has run down at the completion of the operation of sounding an alarm, the purpose of these 'springtongues being to short-circuit the contact-levers 49 50 when the same are not in action, so as to preserve a constant circuit through the main line and obviate the danger of abnormally-heavy currents passing through the le vers 49 50 when the box is in passive condition. The circuits of the box when the parts are in their active and passive positions are shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and referringto these figures the sign plus (-1 indicates the incoming line and the sign minus indicates the outgoin line of the main circuit. Beginning at the pl ns sign of the incomin line of Fig. 7, which shows the mechanism 0? the box in its passive position, the circuit proceeds by a wire 87 to the binding-post 82 of the lightning-arrester, where it finds an open circuit, and from wire 87 a wire 88 leads to the contactpoint 62 of the switch. Thence the circuit proceeds across the plate 67 to the contact 63 and thence by a wire 89 to the binding-post 86, thence by a wire 90 to the insulated post 86, and the contact-tongues 8385 being in contact the circuit proceeds by way of tongue 83 to the insulated post 84, from whence a wire 91 leads to the binding-post 77, from which a wire 92 leads to the binding-post 80 of the lightning-arrester, from whence a wire 93 leads to the outgoing wire 94.

From the foregoing it will be observed that a complete circuit is maintained in the box while the mechanism therein is inactive and that the operative parts of the signaling mechanism are short circuited tongues 83 85. Referring now to Fig. 8, where the parts are shown in their active position, and beginning, as before, with the plus sign of the incoming circuit 87, the circuit is, as before, conducted to the contact-post 62 by the wire 88, and from thence circuit is established by the plate 67, which now bridges the contact-posts 61 and 62, to the contactpost 61, from whence a wire 95 leads to the binding-post 75, and from thence a wire 96 leads to the electromagnet 44, from which a wire 97 leads to the binding-post 74, and from thence a wire 98 leads to the binding-post 79 of the call-bell, whence the current, after passing through the electromagnet of the call-bell, goes to the binding-post 78, by a wire 99 to the contact-post 64, and through the plate 68, which now connects the ost 64 with the post 63, to the said post 63, i-i om which a wire 89 leads to the binding-post 76, through which the current passes to the wire 90, to insulated post 86, and the'tongues 83 85 being now out of contact the current passes bya wire 100 to the contact-arm 50, thence the contact-point through,

arms 49 and 50 are joined, the magnet 44 will be energized and the magnet will be denergized when the contact-points of these arms 49 and 50 are separated. The movement of the cam 36 causes the armature to be moved up mechanically to the magnet by contact of tooth 37 with pin 38 on dog 39, and the attraction of the magnet 44 holds the armature 43 against the poles of the magnet, and the armature will be retained in this position so &

long as the magnet is energized, and the rocking arm 45 being depressed while the arma ture is in contact with the magnet the winding-segment 25 is free to swing and will be moved in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 5 when the hook 10 ispulled downwardly, and will by this movement wind the spring 23. the limit of its downward movement, a tooth 36 on a spring 37" on gear-wheel 27 will enter one of two holes 38 in cam 36 and cause the said wheel to turn with the cam as the latter is turned by the spring in reverse direction to that in which the cam has been turned by the winding-segment when the arm 16 has been released from engagement with the dog 14 on the arm 9, as before. described. The spring will set the train of gearing in motion, and the I disk 56, being turned in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 2, will cause the pins 55 to successively engage the tooth 54 on the arm 50 and will bring the contact-points 51 51 together, the contact of the points being maintained while each of the pins 55 is in engagement with the tooth 54 and the contactpoints being separated by the disengagement of the tooth 54 and pin 55 as soon as the bottom of the tooth reaches the flat top surface of the pin.

The parts being constructed and arranged in the above-described manner and the box being in the 7 of the drawings,) it will be observed that the electric circuit through the various lines and contact-points is complete, the contactpoints 51 51 of the arms 49 50 touching one another by reason of the fact that while the box is in its inactive position one of the pins 55 of the signal-wheel 56 being in this position of arts in contact with the tooth 54. There wiil therefore be a closed circuit through the arms. 49 50; but this circuit will be shortcircuited through the tongues 83 85. When When the arm 16 has reached 5 IIO passive condition, (shown in Fig.

in of the proper signal,

the outer door 2 has been opened, the pin 5, receding from the pin 6, permits the arm 66 to move, and this causes the contact-plate 67 to bridgethe-co'ntactoints 61 62 and the contact-plate 68 to bri ge the contact-points '63 64: Fire parts will thus by the opening of the door 2 be placed in condition for the sendand this is accomphshed in the following manner: The hook 10 being pulled downwardly, the arm 9 is moved, and the dog 14, contacting with the windin -arm 16, the latter will be depressed and wi 'turn the shaft'22 and the cam 36 be revolved thereby, the tooth 37 will contact with pin 38 and depress the dog 39, thereby turning the shaft40, throwing the armature 43 into contact with the cores of the magnet and at the same time drawing the arm 45 downwardly, so as to move the tooth 47 out ofthe path of the hi on the winding-segment and allowin the latter to turn the pinion 21, and ther iy windin the spring 22. The movement of the win 'ng-segment is limitedsby the contact of the hook 25 on the end thereof'with the post 26, and when the winding-segment has reached the extremity of its movement the tooth 36 on sprin 37 enters onset the holes 38 in cam 36, an the cam and the gear-wheel 27 being now enaged the pinionZl, gear-wheel 29, and pin ion will beset in motion and will impart movement to the signal-wheel 56 and the escape-wheel 31, the rate of movement of the signal-wheel and the ratchet-wheel being governed by the pawl 32. The movement of the si nal wheel will cause that one of the pins 55 w ch has been in contact with the tooth 54 to pass the tooth, whereupon the contactpoints 51 51 will be separated and the circuit roken until it is restored by the contact of the next-following pin 55, the contact being thus successively broken a number of times de endenton the number of pins on the signa -wheel. The particular alarm which will be sent from the signal-wheel shown is l7, and the amount ofmovement of the winding-segment is such that the signal-wheel will make four complete revolutions, thus repeating this er of pins on the si particular alarm four times;'but the numnal-wheel and the number of revolutions w being of course variable at will. The movement of the Winding-segment is limited-by the contact of thefirst tooth of its toothed portion with the post 26, and the parts are so arranged that when the winding segment stops the first pin 55 on the signal-wheel will rest, as before stated, in contact with the tooth 54.'

From the foregoing description it. will be observed that the winding-segment can only be turned to such point that the gearing will .be in operative engagement with the volute spring 23 when the armature is 1n contact 'ch the same will make eldest which is pulled first the armature will be net by the contact of the tooth 37 with the pin 38 on dog 39 and the arm 45 will be simultaneously depressed, so as to draw the tooth 47 out of the path of the lug 25' on the winding-segment, and the'latter'can thus be turned to the extremity of its movement. While the signal-wheel of the box that is in service is turning, the circuit through this box will be broken during the greater part of the time, being only madeduring those brief intervals when the pins'55 are in contact withv the tooth 54, and hence the armatures of all the other boxes on the line will be attracted by their magnets if they are pulled while one box is in operation for such brief there will not be sufficient time etween the breaks of the line to pull any other box, and hence there can be no interference with the o eration of any box during the time an a arm is being sent therefrom.

Upon the back of the door 7 and below the arm 9 I arrange .a small cylinder or dash-pot 9, within which is fitted a piston 10, that is carried by a rod 11, that passes through the top of the c linder or dash-pot and has a head 12 which sockets in a recess 13 in the edge of the arm 9. The purpose ofithis device is to prevent the boxbeing wound by a sudden jerk. the cylinder or dash-pot being .filled with glycerin, so that if one attempted to jerk the arm 9 down suddenly the movement will be retarded by the resistance of the glycerin to the movement of the piston 10, the holes in the piston, however, allowing of the movement of the arm 9 at a reasonable pull one of the boxes with a sudden jerk while another of the boxes is in operation and during the time the line-circuit is closed theresistance which is offered to the. movement of the arm 9-by the dash-pot will prevent the arm from moving through sufficient space to wind the box during the short period when the linecircuit is closed.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isi 1. In a fire-alarm system, the combination with a main line, of .a plurality of boxes arranged in series-circuit on said line, each box being provided with a-pull-lever, a toothed segment movable there and a spring-mo. tor adapted to be wound y the movement of said segment for mechanically rotating a signal-wheel, and each box being provided with electrically-o erable means so constructed and arrange that while one of said boxes is normally unwound spring-motor formewith the cores of the magnet. v In the box drawn up against the cores of the electromag- 1periods that rate of speed. Thus if it be attempted to IIC motor-winding means, an electromagnet and i an armature, said armature being arranged and adapted to operate said locking means at such time as the signal-wheel-rotating means is inactive, and electrical circuits and contacts operable by the signal-wheel-rotating mechanism to closethe circuit through said electromagnet.

3...In a device of the character described, the combination of a signal-wheel, clockwork mechanism for rotating said wheel, a contactarm movable by said signal-wheel, an electro-' magnetin circuit with said contact-arm, a lever carrying an armature, a member carried thy th'e clockwork mechanism and adapt-' ed Ito be engaged by the armature-carrying lever when the electromagnet is denergized, and means whereby said armature-carrying lever will be mechanically moved within the s here of attraction of said electromagnet by the winding of said clockwork mechanism.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a signal-wheel, clockwork mechanism operably connected to said signal-wheel, a winding-segment meshing with the winding-arbor of said clockwork mechanism, a lug carried by said winding-segment, a contact-arm adapted to be engaged by said signal -wheel, an electromagnet in a circuit adapted to be closed by said contact-arm, an armature-lever adapted to engage and lock on the windin -segment when the said electromagnet is deenergized, and means carried by the clockwork mechanism for mechanically moving said armature lever within the sphere of attraction of the electromagnet when the said winding-segment is moved to wind the clockwork mechanism.

5. In a device ofthe character described, the combination of a signal wheel, clock- I work mechanism operably connected to said signal Wheel, a winding segment meshing with the windingarbor of said clockwork mechanism, a lug carried b said windingsegment, a contact arm a apted to be engaged by said signal-wheel, an electromagnet in a circuit which is closed-by said contactarm when ,the same is moved by the rotation of the signalwheel, a cam-disk carried on the winding-arbor of said clockwork mechanism, a contact carried by said armature-lever adapted to be engaged by said cam so as to move the armature-lever within the sphere of magnetic attraction of said electromagnet when the said cam is turned by the movement of the winding-arbor.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a clockwork mechanism, means for winding the same, a signal-wheel work mechanism, spring actuated contactarms, one of which is adapted to be engaged by the signal-wheel to close the contact with said contact-arms, contact-tongues arranged to shunt the circuit through said contact-arms, and an arm carried by one of the shafts of said clockwork mechanism and adapted to maintain the shunt-circuit closed through said contact-tongues while the operating'mech'anis'm of the device is in passive condition.

7. In a device of the character set forth, the combination'with a signal-wheel, clockwork mechanism for imparting motion to said signal-wheel, a winding-segment mounted on the shaft and meshing with the clockwork mechanism, an arm carried on said shaft, a pivoted lever, and a dog carried by said lever and adapted to engage with the arm of said shaft, of means for retarding the movement of said arm when the said arm is pulled to wind the clockwork mechanism.

8. In a device of the character set forth, the combination ofa si nal-wheel, clockwork mechanism for rotating said wheel, contact-arms movable by said signal-wheels, an electromagnet in circuitwith said contactarms, an armature-lever pivotally mounted adjacent to said electromagnet, means carried by said armature for locking the Winding-arbor of said clockwork mechanism, contact-posts arranged in series on the incoming spring-actuated switch-lever adapted to simultaneously establish contact between the contact-posts of the incoming and outgoing lines, a pin carried by said switch-lever, a box inclosin said switch-lever, a hinged door carried Iiy said box, and projections on the door to engage the pin on said switch-lever when the said door is closed so as to break the circuit through said contact-posts.-

' In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence .of two witnesses.

STEPHEN J. HEINRICH.

Witnesses:

H. O. EVERT, E. E. POTTER.

therebetween, an electromagnet in circuitmounted on one of the shafts of said clock- I and outgoing circuit of said electromagnet, a 

